I had one of my Singapore based athletes get some technical analysis today. This analysis was related to swimming, and while this athlete is not a bad swimmer, they felt it would be beneficial to get some specialised guidance. The particular bit of analysis used was a SwimSmooth 1-2-1 assessment by the SwimSmooth coach up in Singapore. They had a number of technical suggestions. Quite a large number.
As I have said, this athlete is not a bad swimmer, but it is not something he has a background in, so as is often the case in this scenario, he has a few areas to work on, which the analysis reflected.
Having received a number of technique suggestions, this athlete is now faced with a choice. He can either get depressed and frustrated by the number of faults identified in his stroke, or he can choose to see these technical issues as opportunities. I am pleased to see he is going with option 2.
The reason I am pleased to see he is going with option 2 is because technical guidance can be such a great opportunity for those who embrace it constructively. Think about it this way, somebody is giving you advice on how to get faster without you having to work harder, be fitter or get stronger. That is like the holy grail of improvement opportunities. All you have to do to get quicker is listen, absorb and then practise, do this long enough and you will get faster. No long painful sessions, no gut busting repeats, just practise, adjust, practise adjust. Awesome.
In my experience there are a tricks to improving in a chosen sport (or anything really). One of those tricks is to work hard, do the work consistently and intelligently and you will improve. Great. But another one of those tricks is accepting that you will always have something to learn and then seeking those improvements out actively. The improvements might get more and more incremental with time, but they are there to be had by those who are willing to look.
All you need is the will to look and the willingness to listen.
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